Original subtitles

You always knew that I thought Nicole

was and is an incredible woman

who deserves to be with a man

who recognizes that and treats her accordingly.

And I suppose that man is... you?

What can I say? Truth hurts.

Not as much as my fist is gonna hurt going upside your head.

[tray clatters]

The way your shoulders have been living up at your ears,

seemed like you needed something stronger than tea.

Wanda, sometimes I swear you read my mind

-better than I read my patients. -[doorbell rings]

Ugh. If that is anybody other than a package delivery,

I am not here.

I do not have the emotional bandwidth

for any more drama today.

Don't you worry, I'll send whoever it is away.

Thank you.

Yep, exactly what I needed.

I imagine you do after that show

your ex-husband and I put on for you earlier.

Samantha, really? What are you doing?

Dad, Pop, I-I swear it's not what it looks like.

Oh, really? Because what it looks like

is that my underage daughter is half naked,

about to get it on with this boy.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

What did that salad ever do to you?

Oh, the salad is innocent.

There are certain individuals

I would rather skewer with this fork,

but that's too ambitious

since they are both protected by laws, social norms.

So, here we are.

I'm sorry Vanessa, I'm about a million miles away today.

More Bill drama? Or is it hubby number two this time?

Neither, actually.

I'm worried about Nicole.

I heard through the Fairmont Crest grapevine

her divorce was finalized.

How's our girl taking it?

A little unsteady,

but you know my sister, she's gonna be so busy

managing everyone else's emotions

that she barely has time to process her own.

I should give Nicole a call.

I've been so wrapped up in my own whirlwind,

I haven't checked on her properly.

I think she'd like that.

We did have lunch here the other day.

I got good eyes on her.

I just had to make sure she wasn't putting on a brave face

for the family.

And?

It was fine.

Until we saw a pair of husband-stealing vipers

with their heads together.

Hence the fork.

I swear this club is infested with interloping sluts.

Please tell me that Hayley and Leslie aren't friends.

Now, that is a nightmare coalition

I can't even begin to process.

Yeah. From what Nicole and I could gather,

Mrs. Shamilton

showed a rare moment of, I don't know, good sense

by running off on Looney Tune Leslie.

Apparently, husbands-stealers have standards.

Thank goodness for small favors.

The last thing this place needs is those two

on the same team holding seminars

on how to snatch a husband in ten days or less.

Or emotional manipulation for beginners.

Can you imagine?

Speaking of nightmare scenarios,

how are things with you and Joey?

Joey.

-Hawthorne. -Chief Hawthorne.

Okay. You're so right.

Chief Hawthorne.

You wear it well, too.

Almost makes you look respectable.

-Like a drink? -This isn't a social call.

Oh. I thought you were coming to check out my new bourbon.

I've, uh, I've aged it with care.

Just like our arrangement.

I don't drink on duty. You know that.

I sure as hell don't break bread with men

who try to dictate department personnel decisions.

Oh. Well, that's too bad.

For you, it is. Have a seat.

[sighs]

[laughter]

On the house for the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Oh, stop it. Thank you so much.

[couple speaking indistinctly]

WOMAN: Okay. Well, I'll get your number in a little while.

Hey, you busy?

I could really use a buddy.

What are you doing here, Carlton?

I told Dr. Fitzgerald you weren't receiving visitors,

but he insisted on barging in like he owns the place.

It's okay, Wanda.

I'll deal with this rather impertinent guest myself.

Don't be too hard on her.

I had to see you after what happened at the hospital.

Like you and Ted had to embarrass me?

Two grown men acting like testosterone-addled teenage boys

in a locker room? In front of Shanice, no less?

That is precisely why I'm here.

I came to apologize.

I thought I made it clear how disinterested I am

in your apology back at the hospital.

Uh, you-you did,

but I had to give it another shot.

Now, usually, I take a more backseat approach

to things like this, but lately, I'm trying something different.

Is that why you're ignoring my wishes?

I wasn't myself earlier, and I regret that.

I never let my emotions get that out of hand.

But when Ted started going in on you for agreeing

to go out with me after what he and that Leslie woman did to...

I lost my temper.

So you thought you'd come to my rescue

on your white horse, is that it?

Well, my intention certainly wasn't to upset you.

You think I don't know your intention

was to impress me?

You saw your shot to play hero and you jumped at it

without a second thought as to how it would affect me.

News flash, I am not a damsel in distress.

I am a grown-ass woman who is perfectly capable

of taking care of herself.

I am so sick and tired of being interrogated about Joey.

You sound like your sister.

No, my sister would scold you for deigning

to be associated with such a man in the hopes

that the drone of her voice would scare you

into not making the same mistake again.

And that's not what you're doing?

No, honey, I'm using a much more hands-on approach.

Like you did the other day when you cornered Joey.

I've yet to hear what gave you the right.

Decades of friendship.

I'm not some hapless widow

who can't make her own decisions.

I just wanted to let Joey know

how much you mean to me.

To us.

You were there when Bill left,

when he looked at me after decades of marriage

and told me that Hayley was worth

losing everything that we'd built.

And then I watched Doug slip away from you,

dimming some of your light.

You are family to me, Vanessa.

Not the kind bound by blood or marriage certificates,

but the kind chosen through survival.

And that's all that was about?

That was the gist.

And letting Joey know that,

if he ever did anything, he'd have to answer to me.

And my gun.

Malone came to see me.

Uh-huh. How's he doing?

Not too good. Seems he was all set

to put in his retirement papers.

Oh, right. Yeah.

He intends to sail off into the Caribbean.

It's all he talks about.

After decades on the force, he put in his time.

-Good for Malone. -It was,

until you supposedly told him that he couldn't.

-Is that right? -Maybe.

No. I don't like it one bit. That guy is bad news, okay?

Malone staying on my force one second longer

doesn't work for me.

Well, then, I guess we have a problem.

We were just hanging out.

You're gonna have to do better than that,

Samantha's speaking facts, Mr. Richardson.

And who the hell are you?

Nathan.

Sir.

Samantha's friend.

Is this the one you told me about?

And we saw just how friendly you were.

We didn't plan this, okay? It just sort of happened.

Kid, trust me, silence is your best friend right now.

Samantha invited me over because I needed her help.

-Which class? -NATHAN: Chemistry.

Chemistry? It's a little on the nose, don't you think?

Next, you're gonna be telling us you were studying

the bonding properties of hormones.

I'm being for real. Samantha knows her stuff,

but my folks don't play. If I get another D, I'm cooked.

We were just studying for the test and we vibed.

But like she said, it isn't what it looked like.

You care to weigh in, Samantha?

It's not like we were actually

gonna have sex in the living room. That's ridiculous.

Ridiculous, huh?

Then how the hell do you explain this then?

That...

It must've fallen out my pocket.

Just in time for you to use it on my daughter.

We needed it for our chemistry assignment.

Now, earlier, it was a test, but now, it's an assignment.

Okay. You-- out, now.

-MARTIN: No. -Martin...

He's just a kid.

Which is why he still has his limbs intact.

-Before you go... -Sir.

-Pop... -My daughter is off-limits to you.

That means no calls, no texts, no DMs.

There is no contact at all.

And if you see her walking down the hall at school,

you better run the other direction fast.

You got that?

-Words. -NATHAN: I get it.

Now, you can go.

Are you serious right now, Pop?

You just ruined my entire life.

Voicemail again.

Look, Yolanda, I got your text, and...

I don't know why we can't just talk.

You know what? Never mind.

Take care of yourself. Have a good life.

So we're buddies now?

Please tell me you did not threaten to shoot

-Joey Armstrong over me. -Why?

You concerned your new boo is conspiring to have

your oldest friend fitted with cement Louboutins?

That isn't funny, Dani.

Joey isn't someone you play games with.

I know.

Which is why I didn't actually threaten him.

I don't have a death wish.

I just told him that he can't take advantage of you.

-That's all. -But why? Why even get involved?

Look, you know I don't judge.

I've certainly made my share of questionable decisions.

But Joey isn't one of your usual indiscretions.

He's dangerous.

And that's why I needed to let him know

that if he so much breathes in your direction

with bad intentions...

he's gonna feel mine.

It's not like I owe you any explanation, Chief.

But Malone is essential to certain operations.

Certain operations for a man on the force who knows how

to keep his head down.

And yet, he does the exact opposite.

So, we put him on a tighter leash. We rein him in.

This isn't about reining anyone in.

It isn't a kink in your money machine.

Malone is a liability with a badge.

Let's not be theatrical. What exactly is the issue?

Malone is the issue.

Do you mean behaviorally?

Why don't we try a little old school conflict resolution?

You're not hearing me.

I didn't come here in broad daylight

when I got a precinct full of real crimes and real people

to protect for you to spin me PR. Malone needs to go.

I'm trying to work with you here.

Let me handle it.

I don't want you handling anyone who works under my command.

All right.

Elon, let's be smart about this.

We both know that there are bigger entities at stake here.

It's not just our necks on the line, is it?

So what's up? Why are you sitting here all alone

looking like a sad Drake album cover?

I'll take that.

But the energy shifted soon as you showed up.

I appreciate you for pulling up.

You said you needed company, so spill.

What's going on, heartbreak hotel?

Other than my old man?

Ah. Daddy issues?

Yeah, you're going to need another round

-for that conversation. -It's whatever.

I've been dealing with the same BS since grade school.

Maybe that's how he shows love.

Through being constantly disappointed?

Maybe.

But it's my brother who's really throwing me off.

He was always first to fall in line,

first to defend every move like it was gospel.

But something's different now.

It's like somebody finally laid the receipts

on the table, and he can't unsee the fine print.

Like the spell broke,

and he's not sipping the Kool-Aid no more.

He's pouring it down the drain.

Sometimes, we grow up and the filter comes off,

and the people who raised us start looking real different.

I used to think my mother was a magician.

She always had these new projects and new hustles

wrapped in a pretty little bow.

Took me a very long time

to see that I was just another trick in the deck.

I hate you had to deal with that,

but it seems like you're not letting it slow you down.

What's the alternative? Repeat the cycle?

Nah. I'm not her.

I want to be better.

Good for you.

The difference between us,

I always knew who my family was at their core.

Not saying they're not good people,

just impossible to live up to.

So why bother, you know?

I just wish I had the same radar when it came to Yolanda.

The girlfriend you were telling me about?

The ex, now.

She just dumped me via text.

Nicole, you are, without question,

one of the most formidable women I've ever known.

From the moment I laid eyes on you,

I knew that you were exceptional.

I've never seen you as a victim.

Ever.

-Thank you for saying that. -No thanks needed.

So how about we hit reset

and you give me a chance to make all of this up to you?

We could keep our dinner date at Obelisk.

That ricotta gnocchi that Shanice was raving about.

If it is not on the menu,

I'll call in a favor just so you can experience it.

That sounds lovely,

but I can't, Carlton.

I'm...

It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

Okay, I...

I understand if you need more time.

We can postpone till you're feeling more centered.

I don't think you understand.

I'm not simply postponing the date.

I'm calling it off.

-I'm calling this off. -But why go to that extreme?

What happened at the hospital,

it drove home the point that I am nowhere near ready

to start dating somebody new.

The wounds are still so fresh.

The ink is barely even dry on my divorce papers.

Is this because I embarrassed you?

Or because you still have feelings for Ted?

Practically everyone we know has been lecturing me

-about getting involved with Joey. -With good reason.

You're the only one who's letting me

make my own decisions.

Even if you did feel the need to put him on notice.

Nicole's got her therapy couch.

Mother's got her look that could freeze hell itself.

Meanwhile, I'm more of a "live and let live" kind of gal.

I am still living.

And I refuse to apologize for wanting to feel something

other than grief and guilt.

What does Joey make you feel?

-Well... -Oh. Oh. All right, V.

Look at you, switching streams and glowing about it.

He must be putting in that work.

Is the sex really that good?

Better than good.

In fact, it's the best I've ever had.

Ooh.

I think you're forgetting the bigger picture,

but I'm happy to refresh your memory.

I didn't drag myself across town for story time, Joey.

Humor me.

You know, this-this unholy alliance,

the network spreads far and wide,

and it includes names that are embossed on charity galas,

foundations, city councils, the halls of Congress.

We're alone. You can say their names.

I try not to make a habit to do that,

but we both know who I'm talking about.

What about them?

We know their halos are store-bought.

And it would be a-a shame,

a real scandal, in fact,

if that glow were tarnished

by a little thing like the truth.

Well, actually, multiple truths,

So Malone stays or you tip the table?

Oh, I don't want to tip anything.

But I do want to keep the board stable.

You know, this-this thing we have...

it isn't just a house of cards.

It's a stacked deck.

And one wrong move,

and the whole thing can come right down on top of us.

No winners. The truth laid bare.

And, brother, that's you. Hell, that's me.

And everyone else caught in the shuffle.

The Duprees.

Protecting that family is more important to you

than it is to me.

But I have a vested interest in maintaining

the status quo as well.

Having to do with Malone.

I need a man inside the force

who knows where the bodies are buried,

but he isn't dumb enough to dig them up, too.

Unless...

I just had an idea.

I'm almost afraid to ask.

Well, if you're so bent out of shape about Malone

keeping his badge,

why don't I just groom his replacement?

Like who?

Your son Jacob comes to mind.

What? Right there on the poker table, twice?

Remind me to bring my hand sanitizer next time.

Let's just say the second time was better than the first.

There is a reason they called Joey a high roller.

And trust me, he tipped very well.

Okay, maybe I understand the attraction now, but...

I still think you're playing with fire.

At least the blaze is worth the burn.

See, that's just it.

With Joey, what you see is what you get.

I find that so refreshing after Doug,

not to mention exciting.

I can definitely empathize.

There was never a dull moment in my marriage to Bill,

in or out of the bedroom,

but the constant cheating,

little digs to feed his ego, that...

that was the real damage.

With Andre...

he would never be that intentionally unkind.

So, you do get where I'm coming from.

Absolutely.

It's just, my rebound was with a sexy photographer,

-while Joey is... -An entrepreneur.

Uh-huh. And Al Capone was just

a mild-mannered liquor distributor.

Mm-hmm.

You're better than this.

We raised you to be smart and thoughtful.

Someone who understood the impact of her choices.

And today, you showed none of that.

You still didn't have to humiliate me.

How did you expect us to react? With balloons and confetti?

Did you know your sister had a boy over?

What? No.

Nathan. Ring any bells?

Tyrell doesn't know him.

I didn't even know Samantha was home.

I thought she was out working with Kat and Chelsea.

That's where she was supposed to be.

I was. I just came home early. So what?

Samantha, what you were about to do

could've changed the trajectory of your entire life.

And you're 16, for God's sakes.

Which is the age of consent in D.C.

You two are both blowing this way out of proportion.

Are we? You lied to us,

and you snuck a boy into our home to do God knows what.

Tyrell brought Jessica over,

and you didn't stage an exorcism then.

-Hey. -Come on, Samantha,

do not act like we are being unreasonable here.

Okay. I made a mistake. I get it.

This is a risk.

Physical, emotional, life-changing consequences.

So I'm supposed to just act like I don't have any feelings?

-That's not what we're saying. -No, what you're saying is that

you want me to be your perfect little girl

who wears appropriate clothes and uses appropriate words.

Are you two really gonna pretend that you've never done anything

like this before when you were our age?

Your Pop and I are not saints.

We've made mistakes, big ones.

But that's the point.

We want you to learn from our experiences.

-You get that, right? -We do.

-Right? -Whatever.

-Are we done here? -Not yet.

-You're grounded. -Figures.

Phone.

Your tablet and laptop comes, too.

Should I learn to chisel my homework into stone tablets?

-Enough with the back talk. -And don't tempt me.

Whatever.

Samantha, I am so disappointed in you.

I'm-a just go do my homework.

Go ahead, tell me I was too hard on her.

No.

Not this time.

Yes, Carlton, I still have feelings for Ted.

He was my husband for three decades.

We built a life, raised children.

Now, we're watching those children

raise children of their own.

That kind of bond you just don't dissolve.

So you are still in love with him.

No, I didn't say that.

I am moving on from Ted. That hasn't changed.

But moving on doesn't mean I'm ready to move on to someone new.

When one of my patients is navigating

a life-altering shift, I tell them all the same thing.

Don't make any decisions while your heart is still bleeding.

I should've listened to my own advice.

I am not ready to be with somebody.

And not because I don't see your heart, Carlton, I do.

But because I can't meet it halfway right now.

And you deserve better.

Wow.

That was the most graceful rejection I've ever received.

It is not a rejection.

It's a pause.

Maybe even a kindness.

To me?

Or to yourself?

Both.

Whew. Spicy.

But not as spicy as getting dumped via text.

I mean, she couldn't even send a voice note?

Cold-blooded, huh?

Now, all the brooding at the bar makes sense.

Wait, hold up. What's that supposed to mean?

Oh, come on.

You really want me to break down the post-breakup

gender playbook? Like you don't already know?

Go ahead, school me.

All right, so Issa and Lawrence on Insecure,right?

Breakup goes down, and there's Molly, wine in hand.

Issa's curled up on that ratty couch in shambles, but...

...where's Lawrence?

-With Tasha. -Yep.

Getting freaky like Issa never even existed.

So you think that's why I'm here? That I'm on the prowl?

I mean...

You do have on some really nice cologne.

What if I'm not here hunting?

What if I'm just trying to forget?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what Lawrence said, too.

You're ruthless.

I'm observant and real.

All the women in this room.

Are you really gonna sit here and tell me

that you haven't started scoping out your rebound roster?

I plead the fifth.

Exactly.

Dani, I'm not oblivious.

I know who Joey is and what he does.

I just needed to hear it out loud.

But I also know what we're building,

and before you roll your eyes, let me remind you

this started as a business arrangement.

And we both know what they say about

mixing business and pleasure.

Whoever said it was a bad idea was dead wrong.

My professional and personal partnership

with Joey is progressing beautifully.

In fact, I've decided I want more from my involvement.

Much more.

Vanessa...

Please tell me you aren't talking about

becoming Mrs. Armstrong.

You want my son Jacob?

Is that supposed to be some type of sick joke?

-Elon... -I'm not playing with you, Joey.

If you so much as breathe in Jacob's direction,

you and I are gonna have problems that can't be fixed.

Elon, will you take it down a notch?

I'm pulling your chain.

I swear, you are wired tighter than a spring.

Maybe it's time to get a little fiber in your diet.

-I can give you some recipes. -It's not funny.

It's kind of funny.

All right, we both know Saint Jacob wouldn't get dirty

if you paid him double.

He's the kind of cop who wipes his feet

before he enters a crime scene.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Jacob and Luke stayed the course.

I couldn't be more proud of the men they've become.

Aren't you the father of the century?

Ain't exactly say that. I got a third, Izaiah.

I've, uh, never heard of him.

Well, because he hasn't been around.

Tried my best with that boy.

At least that's what I tell myself.

Izaiah's been a hothead since a teen.

He used to run around with gangs

and get in all sorts of trouble.

Even had to arrest him one time for dealing weed.

Well, who'd have ever thought

that the Hawthornes worked both sides of the law?

Not anymore.

Izaiah's record got expunged, he left, got himself together,

and you would never guess who helped with the expunge.

Our so-called rogue cop.

Got to give it to Malone,

he came through for my son when he was in a jam.

I know Izaiah don't believe this, but it's...

nothing I wouldn't do for that kid.

You got a little... Ooh.

Had a little something right there.

Oh. Thank you.

I swear, I'm usually more put together.

Anytime.

So, what's good with that Banneker offer?

You taking it?

I told my brother I was gonna accept

when I heard back from Yolanda,

but being that close to my pops again,

I'm seeing serious danger signs.

Trust me, I get that.

Look, I love my mom, but if you search

"hot mess" on Urban Dictionary,

you'll probably find her rocking some ridiculous wig

and serving face for the camera.

Your mom sounds like a character.

That's putting it mildly.

Sometimes, I wonder if coming back is worth the headache.

Whatever you decide, I hope it really works out for you.

But...

I'm kind of hoping you stay.

And why is that?

I'm not exactly surrounded by friends here.

Most people judge me because of who my mother is.

But you're different.

And something tells me

you might be a real one to have in my corner.

Maybe D.C. has more to offer than I thought.

Maybe.

That kid had a condom, Smitty.

A condom, in our house.

I know. I am just as stunned as you are.

What was Samantha thinking?

She wasn't.

That's the point.

When teenagers do this, they push boundaries,

they explore their sexuality.

I mean, we can't pretend that sex

wasn't in every song that we listened to growing up,

or on every season of The Real World.

That's exactly why I didn't want her to date in the first place.

But I let you talk me into it.

So this is on me?

That's not what I meant.

I'm the one that they can talk to about anything.

You're the disciplinarian. That's the balance.

Smitty...

No, I...

Maybe you're right.

Samantha certainly didn't talk to me about this.

Maybe I'm too soft.

Smitty, look at me.

Come here.

You're the heart that these kids need.

That I need.

When I go nuclear,

you're the cooling system that keeps us from melting down.

'Cause that doesn't happen often.

I spend all day fighting battles in Congress.

Sometimes, I forget, when I come home, to stop.

But you...

You've helped me work on that.

You're our center.

And maybe this isn't the apocalypse

that I'm making it out to be.

We knew there would be growing pains.

Hell, we practically signed up for them.

And we'll get through this like we do everything else.

Yes.

This time, we face this together.

No more Pops versus Dad.

Just us-- listening,

figuring it out.

-Together. -I love that.

So what'd they say about me after I left?

I didn't stick around.

I wasn't trying to be collateral damage

when Pop goes supernova like that.

Yeah, he really hit me with the "deeply disappointed" line.

Wild, isn't it?

What's wild is you.

-What? -Nathan? Seriously?

Okay, so he's not some straight-A overachiever,

but he's not just some guy.

He's... he's sweet.

No, he's not.

He's a walking red flag with sneakers and gross.

You should hear how he talks in the locker room.

Always cappin' about the girls he's smashed.

I didn't know that.

Now you do.

Look, I'm not trying to be like Pop, but I'm your brother,

and I don't want some try-hard dragging your name like that.

Maybe you're right.

Thanks for having my back, big bro.

Even though, most of the time,

you do get on my last nerve.

Feeling's mutual.

Have you heard the new Lil Tecca?

Not yet.

Mm. The beat goes crazy.

Here, put your headphones on.

Turning off notifications.

-Okay, this is actually tough. -Told you.

Well, I must admit, Nicole, I'm a bit disappointed.

I know, and I feel terrible.

If I hadn't let Ted bait me, we would have had

what I am certain would've been an incredible evening.

We would have.

-And that's what scares me. -What?

The possibility of happiness?

The possibility of jumping from one relationship to another

without ever taking the time to learn who I am on my own.

And I cannot expect you to sit in the wings and wait

until I sort it all out.

Well, let me stop you right there.

I've admired you for more years than I care to admit.

And I don't mind biding my time a little longer.

Girl, please tell me you are not about to say

"Joey Armstrong" and "marriage" in the same sentence.

without "never in a million years" in between.

I just buried one husband.

I'm in no rush to hitch myself to another one.

Not even mind-blowing orgasms are worth that.

That's a relief.

But if not marriage, then how do you plan to deepen

your involvement with the DMV's most dangerous bachelor?

I told Joey I wanted to expand our business partnership.

I don't want to be the woman standing behind his throne.

I want to sit on it with him.

Oh, boy.

Yeah, Malone has been useful over the years,

but he's getting sloppy and way too visible.

This conversation's going in circles.

The matter's settled. Make peace with it.

And if I don't?

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